Valve spring compressor



y 3,1, 1938- l. J. CLARK 2,119,128

VALVE SPRING COMPRES SOR Filed June 14, 1937 INVENTOR. [PA J. CLARK.

BY W%% I ATTORNEY.

Patented May 31, I938 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a valve spring compressor for internal combustion engines.

With the modern type of automotive engine, exceedingly stiff valve springs are employed to 5 accommodate the high speed of the engines. It

is very difiicult to compress these springs sufliciently to allow removal and replacement of the valve stem keys necessary for removing and replacing the valves.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a compressor for this type of work which can be easily operated against the extreme pressures exerted by modern springs; which can be used and operated in a very limited space so that it can be employed on the engine without removing the latter from the surrounding chassis; which will positively support the spring at any point during the compression thereof without danger of release; which can be easily 20 inserted in the very small space remaining between the valve spring washer and the tappet bearingof an engine; and which can be reversed and used either side up to void interferences around the motor.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

25 In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved valve spring compressor in the closed position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 illustrates the compressor being inserted 40 for compression of the valve spring.

Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating the spring in the compressed position.

Fig. 5 is a rear end view of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a front end view thereof.

In the drawing typical parts of an automotive engine are indicated as follows: valve stem Iii, valve spring I I, valve tappet 12, valve tappet bearing l3, and valve spring cup Id.

The improved compressor comprises a first 50 armconsisting of two similar side members I 5,

bent at their one extremity at a downward angle as indicated at 16, and terminating in flanged ends forming valve spring shelves H. A second arm I 8 cooperates with the first arm IS. The 55 second arm also consists of two similar side members which are .also bent downward at their one extremity and flanged to form flanged shelves l9.

The second arm I8 is bent at a more gradual angle" than the first arm I5, so that the flanged 5 extremities contact at the extreme end to facilitate insertion.

The arm I8 is joined to the arm l5 at their rear extremities by means of a pair of short links 20, preferably positioned on the outside of the arms. The links are joined to the arm 48 by means of a suitable attachment bolt 2! which passes through both links and both side members and through a separating sleeve 22 which holds the arm members in their proper spaced relation. The upper extremities of the links are secured to the rearward extremity of each of the arms l5 by means of a rivet 23 The rivets 23 also secure a U'-shaped frame member 23 to the arm I5.

Forwardly of the links 20, the two arms are hingedly secured together by means of a pair of long links 24', preferably positioned inside of the arm' members; The long links 24' are secured to the arms by means of suitable hinge bolts. One bolt, 25, passes through the two' arm members 15 and the tw'olinks 24' and through a spacing sleeve 21. The other bolt 26 passes through the two arm members 18'', the two links 24, and through the forward extremity of a threaded jack screw 28'. V I s The rearward extremity of the jack screw 28 passes through the frame member 23 to receive a hand nut member or threaded wheel 29 which acts through a suitable bearing washer 30 against the frame member 23.

The forward extremity of the arm members l5 are forcedoutwardly' by means of a compression spring 30 surrounding an adjusting bolt 3!, by means of which, any desired separation may be had of the jaws to accommodate spring washers M of any desired diameter.

In use, the device is collapsed to the position of Fig. 1 and the arms I! and I9 are forced between the tappet bearing l3 and the spring washer l4, as shown in Fig. 3. The hand nut 29 is now rotated to thread the nut along the shaft 28. This exerts a pressure on the frame 23 which forces the arm member 15 forwardly. The forward motion of this arm is translated by the links and 24 into an upward movement of the forward extremity of the arm l5 which acts to raise the valve spring washer I4 and compress the spring II.

The compression can be stopped at any desired point which will allow convenient removal of the spring retaining keys with assurance that the spring will be held compressed until the hand nut 29 is again rotated to again lower the arm I5.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the compressor is inserted while extending at a downward angle. In some cases where this is not possible, the entire device can be reversed so that the arm [8 becomes the upper member, in which case it will function with equal satisfaction.

By forming the links 24 longer than the links 20, the forward extremities of the arms are caused to separate very rapidly whereas the rearward extremities of the arms separate but slightly. The frame member 23 is hinged to the arm so that it can accommodate the change of angle of the jack screw. 1

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent 1. A valve spring compressor comprising: a first and upper arm member; a second and lower arm member, said arm members being bifurcated at their one extremity; supporting flanges extending inwardly from the furcations of said lat ter extremities; a short link member hinged to and connecting said arm members adjacent their other extremity; a long link member hinged to and connecting said arm members intermediate said first link member and said furcated extremities; a tension member extending diagonally from the lower hinge point of said long link to the upper hinge point of said short link; and means for drawing upon said tension member to swing said links and cause said arm members to separate.

2. A valve spring compressor comprising: a first arm member; a second arm member, said arm members being bifurcated at their one extremity; supporting flanges extending inwardly from the furcations of said latter extremities; a short link member connecting said arm members adjacent their other extremity; a long link member connecting said arm members intermediate said first link member and said furcated extremities; a threaded shaft connected at one extremity to one end of one of said arm members; and a nut on said threaded shaft acting against the other extremity of the other arm member to force said two arm members to separate.

3. A valve spring compressor comprising: a first arm member; a second arm member, said arm members being bifurcated at their one extremity; supporting flanges extending inwardly from the furcations of said latter extremities; a short link member connecting said arm members adjacent their other extremity; a long link member connecting said arm members intermediate said first link member and said furcated extremities; a threaded shaft connected at one extremity to one end of one of said arm members; a nut on said threaded shaft; and a pivoted frame member secured to the other end of the other arm member for receiving the thrust of said nut so as to force said two arm members to separate.

4. A valve spring compressor comprising: a first arm formed of a pair of side members spaced from each other; work engaging means on one extremity of said first arm; a second arm, said second arm also consisting of two side members spaced from each other; work engaging means on one extremity of said second arm in cooperative g relation with the work engaging means on the first arm; a pair of short links hinged between said two arms at the extremity opposite the work engaging means; a pair of longer links; a hinge pin securing said longer links to the members of said second arm, the other extremity of said longer links being hinged to the members of said first arm; a jack screw extending from about said hinge pin at a diagonal to and between the side members of said first arm; a pressure member on the first arm; and a nut threaded on said screw and acting against said pressure member to force said first arm forwardly over said second arm to swing said links about their pivot extremities.

5. A valve spring compressor comprising: a first arm formed of a pair of side members spaced from each other; work engaging means on one extremity of said first arm; a second arm, said second arm also consisting of two side members spaced from each other; Work engaging means on one extremity of said second arm in cooperative relation with the work engaging means on the first arm; a pair of short links hinged between said two arms at the extremity opposite the work engaging means; apair of longer links; a hinge pin securing said longer links to the members of said second arm, the other extremity of said longer links being hinged to the members of said first arm; a pressure member hinged to and extending between the extremities of the side members of the first arm; a threaded shaft mounted at its one extremity on said hinge pin and extending diagonally rearward through said pressure member; and a nut on said threaded shaft acting against said pressure member to draw said hinge pin toward said pressure member.

IRA J. CLARK. 

